After the discovery of oil in the Niger Delta region, the zeal to embark on agricultural production in the region dwindled as the youth, women remained focus on securing white collar jobs in the oil sector.
Also, the effect of climate change and oil spillage in the region contributed to the discouragement agricultural activities in the region, as the soil became less fertile for planting.
Meanwhile Niger Delta Region is blessed with natural water which serves as habitat for sea animal and also a source of life to plants, if properly utilised.
It is based on this backdrop that the Livelihood Improvemnet Family Enterprise Project for the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) embarked on training and empowerment of youths, women and Persons Living with Dissabilities (PLWD) to produce food and earn money through agricultural production.
LIFE-ND is an initiative of the Nigerian government, in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as well as state governments in the Niger Delta, targeted at ensuring sustainable agricultural development and improved income for farmers and job creation for the youth and women.
The project, since inception five years ago has injected over $20 million to the rural economy in the Niger Delta region which is substantively close to N16 billion.
The six participating states are Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Ondo.
The remain three states, Imo, Rivers and Akwa Ibom, have not commenced implementation because the NDDC has not released its own counterpart fund for the project to commence.
The project so far has created 12,000 jobs and 15,960 enterprises running across the six participating states. The project also ensures that 80 percent of its beneficiaries have access to improved natural diet.
In Imiringi community, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Moses Azibalua, who is physically challenged, was trained by the project on bird production. Azibalua, who was jobless before the LIFE-ND intervention, said he can feed himself now without depending on people from the money he makes from selling eggs.
“They brought LIFE-ND programme to our community and educated us about it. I picked interest because I was jobless at that time, I indicated interest, they called us for selection after which I was selected and given opportunity to come and learn layers production.
“After training us for three months, they gave us birds for us to practice the production for one year after which we can now stand on our own.
“They paid for the training, they were giving me transportation money to my training centre. They gave 150 birds each for a start, they also gave us 28 bags of feed. The whole birds survived.
“I get two crates of eggs per day, my life has turned around. I thank LIFE-ND for bringing this programme and the partners. I urge them to continue with the programme so that many more people will benefit.
“As someone with disability who usually depends on people to feed, now this [programme] has made me to be self-dependent. From my egg sales, I can use it to take care of myself without depending on anyone,” he said.
In the same community, a house wife, Mercy Collins, said she has been at home doing nothing until LIFE-ND trained her on poultry production which has engaged her in money making.
“LIFE-ND empowered us, gave us layers at the point of laying, we started picking the eggs, at least, every day I pick about one and a half crates of eggs. It has really changed my life because before I just stay at home doing nothing but now I have something doing, it has really impacted my life. I will not back out after LIFE-ND assistance, I will still buy birds and continue the business,” she said.
Sunday Kelvin, another physically challenged youth in Ofuoma community, Ughelli North, Delta State, said his life has changed after the project supported him with 1,000 fingerlings and 25 bags of fish feed to start up a pond.
Kelvin who was trained for four months by his Incubator, said he hopes to expand his fish pond from the proceeds he gets from the intervention.
In this project, LIFE-ND attach the beneficiaries (Incubatees) to an trainer (Incubator) who is an expert in the business. For example, beneficiaries for fish production undergo some months training under a fish producer who puts them through before they will stand on their own.
“LIFE-ND intervention has helped me in so many ways, it is a self-empowermnet programme for me. I don’t have anything doing before but with the aid of this programme, I am engaged now. It has been helping me and I know it will help me after I make my sales.
“I am hoping to open another fish farmer after harvesting this one. We were trained for 4 months and after which we were given 1,000 fingerlings, 25 bags of fish feed”, Kelvin said.
Samuel Jekpu Ogheneruna, from Ofuoma Community, Ughelli North local government area of Delta State, is in into palm oil and palm nuts processing. He said the project provided a selector, working tools like rain boot and hand gloves for him to ease the drudgery in palm processing.
Ogheneruna said about five beneficiaries were trained by the project on the use of the selector and how to maximise their production.
“The LIFE-ND programme provided a selector and working tools like rain boot and hand gloves. The selector used to separate the shaft from the kernel. The machine made the work easier because instead of using hand to separate the shaft and the kernel, we now use the machine.
“Five of us were trained for about one month and half on how to operate the machine. We have 8 women and 10 men working in this oil palm mill”, he said.
Pat Oki, in Jeddo Community, Okpe Local Government, Delta State benefited from LIFE-ND and she was empowered with 1000 fingerlings, 50 bags of fish feed.
Oki who was tailor said her business was greatly affected during the Covid-19 lockdown, after which she has suffered huge setback. But after LIFE-ND intervention, Oki said her life has been turned around.
“I was in a tricycle when I heard about LIFE-ND programme on a radio, I discontinued my movement immediately, called my sister who was into fish farm, and she told me that they were already filling forms for the LIFE-ND programme. I went there, I filled the form, I went for interview and I was selected.
“They trained us for about three months; they later gave us 1000 fingerlings and 50 bags of feed. My life turned around from that programme. I have made four circles since I left LIFE-ND programme last year October.
“Before I sew cloths for people, but during Covid-19 lockdown, there was no sale, I shut-down too, for some months I was at home until I heard about this programme. If you know me before and see me now, you will know that my life has changed, my love has turned around for the better”, she narrated.
The project has hit 60 per cent mark as it approaches the 5th year of implementation. The LIFE-ND National Project Coordinator, Dr Abiodun Sani expressed optimism that by 2024 the project will be able to achieve its 100 per cent mark.
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